Darlin' Irish (Texas Devlins) [Kindle Edition]

Lyn Horner (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Set in the American West of 1872, Darlin' Druid is a tale of epic adventure, stormy romance and family strife, sparked by flashes of Druid magic. Jessie Devlin, a daughter of Irish immigrants and a survivor of the Great Chicago Fire, is descended from the "Old Ones," her mother's name for their ancient Druid ancestors. Gifted with second sight, Jessie suffers nightmares in which an unknown man saves her from burning to death. A prophetic vision convinces her the man truly exists and to find him she must look west. But will her quest lead her to love or into a deadly trap?

Captain David Taylor is a Texan who sided with the North in the Civil War, earning his father's abiding wrath. Now serving on the frontier, David longs for home and a family of his own. After a trip east, he encounters Jessie in the Omaha train depot. He's entranced by her beauty but has no taste for her firecracker temper. She brings to mind a ghost from his past who he'd rather forget. As the two journey westward, their clashing personalities war with fiery passion that threatens to overwhelm common sense. Violence dogs them along the rails and explodes amid the unexpected beauty of Mormon Utah and in an isolated mountain mining camp. Whether love will win the day or be lost forever is a question that hangs in the balance until the terrifying conclusion on the broad Texas plains.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lyn Horner resides in Texas with her husband and several beloved cats. Trained in the visual arts, Horner worked as a fashion illustrator and later as an art instructor for Art Instruction Schools (famous for their "Draw Me" heads.) After quitting work to raise her children, she took up writing as a creative outlet. This hobby grew into a love of historical research and the crafting of passionate romances based upon that research. The author says, "Writing a book is much like putting together a really big jigsaw puzzle. It requires endless patience and stubborn determination to see your ideas come to life, and once hooked on the process, you're forever addicted." A member of Romance Writers of America, Yellow Rose Romance Writers, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, Horner is the author of DARLIN’ DRUID, the award winning first book in her Texas Druids trilogy. This western saga features three uniquely gifted siblings, descendents of ancient Irish Druids. DASHING DRUID, book two in the series, is now available, and the third book is "under construction". In addition, a novella titled WHITE WITCH serves as a prelude to the trilogy. Currently available exclusively on amazon.com, this work of historical fiction depicts the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, as seen through the eyes of a clairvoyant young woman who “saw” the catastrophic fire weeks before the first spark ignited. The author knows such a psychic power truly exists, having experienced prophetic dreams herself. Horner has also published a memoir titled SIX CATS IN MY KITCHEN. Six special cats are the headline-grabbing stars, but the book also touches upon subjects such as grieving the loss of loved ones, living with a disability, and coping with major life changes. It's liberally illustrated with photos. Lyn invites you to visit her on the web. http://texasdruids.com http://texasdruids.blogspot.com/ http://cowboykisses.blogspot.com/ http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Lyn-Horner/161787403863487 https://twitter.com/#!/TexasDruids She is also a contributing author at: http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com where she has written a series of how-to articles about Publishing With Amazon.

Product Details

• File Size: 685 KB
• Print Length: 320 pages
• Publisher: Lyn Horner; 1 edition (November 4, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004ASNDES
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,375 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Darlin' Druid January 29, 2012

By BigAl TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

My natural tendency is to shy away from both historical and western genres. "Darlin' Druid" combines both, along with a touch of something else, either supernatural or paranormal, depending on how you define these. I know why I have this tendency. It's because I don't think I'll be able to relate to a story so far removed from my own life and experiences. Yet I consistently find when I venture into new genres that the human experience, regardless of differences in time, geography, or even worlds, is often enough the same to draw me in. That was what I found in "Darlin' Druids."

In her bio, the author says she enjoys the historical research for her books. Although I'm not a history buff, through education and reading I've picked up a lot of the history of the time and areas where this novel takes place (primarily Chicago, Utah, and Texas) and the historical elements, including many subtle touches, all ring true. Another thing that will often throw me in a story that takes place in areas I'm familiar with is if they get a geographical detail wrong. Horner obviously did her research here, too.

All of this would be for naught if there weren't a good story here, but there is. It blends a compelling romantic story line, and all that implies, with a coming-of-age story line for the heroine, Jessie, and to a lesser degree, for the hero, David. Jessie's prophetic visions, which give "Darlin' Druid" its supernatural twist, serve as a plot device, by foreshadowing and also driving Jessie's decisions. Fans of historical romance and possibly even those who are into westerns, sans romance, should find much to like in "Darlin' Druid."

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars He was nasty to her!! June 21, 2012

By S. Tibben

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I would have given this book a better rating, but I just couldn't get over how nasty and rude he was... I almost didn't want her to end up with him. I find it very frustrating when authors, in an attempt to create tension, have the "hero" so verbally abusive. Yes I expect there to be some conflict before their relationship is resolved, but I hate to see the heroine "fall in love" and be "unable to resist him" with some one who treats her SO badly and says such horrible things to her.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read! April 13, 2011

By L. Wallace reviewer for "Paranormal Romance Guild"

Format:Kindle Edition

A dteagmháil na Gaeilge sa sean-Iarthar: A touch of the Irish in the Old West is the best description of this story. The title hints at ancient times of the Druids but not so in Lyn Horner's book. This is a story of a soldier not wanted at home by his father in west Texas, and has made the Army his life. Heading back to the Fort, he hears fighting and was surprised to see a young corporal being beaten by a feisty auburn haired woman. Breaking up the fight, Captain David Taylor soon finds he's now the object of Jessie Devlin's ire. She recognizes him as the face in her dreams and the one her scything has told her to go west and find. David sees a woman determined with a hot temper, too much of a reminder of his mother who abandoned him and his father years ago.

Jessie has the `sight', able to see bits of the future and was told by her decreased mother it's a gift inherited from the Druids in the old country of Ireland. When her father tells her to marry a man of his choice Jessie uses her sight to find out what her future is. A face with kind loving eyes, the face of the man in her dreams. But his image disappeared to be replaced by a man with fire in his eyes. Jessie heads quickly back home with both images in her mind and the words `go west' in her ears.

Jessie's brother Tye decides to head west on the train to seek his fortune in the gold rush. Defying her father Jessie goes with her brother to find the man she is to love and hopefully stay out of the clutches of the evil man in her vision. Waiting for her brother at the train station she finds the man of her dreams, literally. But instead of loving kind eyes she finds a bold man full of mischief. Jessie is confused at the contradiction of her dream man and the real man in front of her.

Both end up on the same train along with the young soldier and his friends. Jessie and Tye are in a different train car than the soldiers. Soon a fight breaks out in the back of the car among a group, one accusing the other of cheating at a game of cards. The conductor arrives to stop the fight backed by David and the other soldiers. David is invited to sit with Tye and Jessie. Curious about Jessie and her relationship with Tye, David accepts Tye's invitation to sit. Jessie spends the time on the trip wondering if her sight has let her down. David thinks about his attraction to Jessie but feels distrust about her temper.

First with confusion, indecision and mistrust Jessie and David go through situations that bring both close to death and find the man with the eyes of fire. Jessie tells David of her `sight' and David eventually tells her of his mother and how she left her family for another man. From Chicago to Utah, then to the Old West this couple learn about each other. Will this be enough for a future together?

I really enjoyed the book, the ending wasn't rushed but the book felt more like an action western and not so much as a romance novel. More interaction between Jessie and David would have been welcomed by this reader. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.

Review by Laura Wallace
Member Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team

More About the Author

Award-winning author Lyn Horner resides in Texas with her husband and beloved cats. Trained in the visual arts, Lyn worked as a fashion illustrator and art instructor for Art Instruction Schools (famous for their "Draw Me" heads.) After quitting work to raise her children, she took up writing as a hobby, soon discovering a love of historical research and the crafting of passionate romances based upon that research.

The author says, "Writing a book is much like putting together a really big jigsaw puzzle. It requires endless patience and determination to see your ideas come to life. Once hooked on the process, you're forever addicted."

A member of Romance Writers of America, Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, Hearts Through History RWA, and Yellow Rose RWA, Lyn is active on several blog sites, author forums and Facebook. Her debut novel, DARLIN' DRUID, won 2nd place in the Paranormal Romance Guild 2011 Reviewers Choice Awards. Late that same year, she published DASHING DRUID, the second volume in her Texas Druids trilogy. This book won 3rd place in its category of the 2012 Romance Through the Ages Contest.

Lyn is now at work on DEAREST DRUID, volume three in the trilogy, scheduled for release in March, 2013. These epic western romances feature a trio of unique siblings. Descended from legendary Irish Druids, each one possesses a special psychic power. The author has also published a short prequel to the trilogy titled WHITE WITCH. This novella showcases one sibling's clairvoyant ability, a gift Lyn has experienced herself.

In addition, the author offers a window onto her life in her memoir, SIX CATS IN MY KITCHEN. Six special cats are the stars, but the book also touches upon serious subjects such as grief, living with a disability, and coping with major life changes. Family photos liberally illustrate the text.

Lyn's websites:
http://texasdruids.com/
http://texasdruids.blogspot.com/
http://cowboykisses.blogspot.com/
http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/
Contributing author at: http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/